The San Francisco 49ers (13-4) will make their third N.F.C. championship sport look in 4 seasons after they face the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) on Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern time, broadcast on Fox.
Betting strains barely lean towards the Eagles, enjoying at dwelling, as a 2.5-point favourite, which is a testomony to their consistency within the common season. But the modest unfold additionally exhibits that specialists predict this sport between two of the league’s finest groups to be aggressive.
The matchup highlights how the groups constructed an entire roster within the trendy N.F.L., as each golf equipment fielded lineups which are deep in key positions due to shrewd draft selections and trades by Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman and 49ers General Manager John Lynch.
A thriving Jalen Hurts
The Eagles, the highest seed within the N.F.C., share the perfect file within the N.F.L. with Kansas City and have ascended to the league’s elite due to the event of quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts, chosen within the second spherical of the 2020 N.F.L. draft, has drastically improved in his second full season as a starter, throwing for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns whereas finishing over 66 % of his passes. A.J. Brown, a receiver whom Roseman traded for in April, caught half of these landing passes, posting 1,496 yards and 11 scores.
Hurts additionally rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns, incomes a Pro Bowl choice regardless of lacking two video games with a shoulder harm. Hurts’s dashing capability, coupled along with his arm, has allowed the Eagles to thrive in Coach Nick Sirianni’s run-pass possibility offense, a scheme that enables the quarterback to hand the ball off or throw to a receiver relying on the response of the protection. The quarterback dispelled considerations about his shoulder by finishing a 40-yard move on his second play of the divisional-round win towards the Giants.
The Eagles’ offensive line, led by middle Jason Kelce and deal with Lane Johnson, is likely one of the finest within the N.F.L., permitting the Eagles to rush for 147.6 yards per sport, the fifth-most within the league. Defensively, the Eagles secured essentially the most sacks (70) and allowed the fewest passing yards per sport (179.8), largely due to gamers Roseman traded for or added in free company within the final three years, comparable to cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry and linebacker Haason Reddick.
A shocking Brock Purdy
The Eagles will face a 49ers offense led by the rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, who started the season on the backside of the depth chart. But he was inserted halfway by the 12 months after accidents to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
He transitioned seamlessly.
The 49ers have gained 12 consecutive video games, together with the seven video games Purdy has began since Garoppolo’s foot harm towards the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 4. Purdy, the final choose of the 2022 N.F.L. draft, has performed effectively underneath Coach Kyle Shanahan, who additionally acts because the offense’s play caller. Purdy has thrown simply 4 interceptions whereas including 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns in 9 video games. But his success can be tied to the offensive weapons round him.
Lynch in October traded for the star working again Christian McCaffrey, whose ambidextrous dashing and receiving expertise align with Shanahan’s want to capitalize on gamers’ capability to run after the catch and place them in several areas of the sector. McCaffrey, who has posted 1,403 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns since becoming a member of San Francisco, enhances the versatile receiver Deebo Samuel and provides to a crop of targets that additionally embrace tight finish George Kittle and receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The 49ers ranked as the highest total protection within the league this season, permitting the fewest factors (277) and the second fewest whole yards (5,110). DeMeco Ryans, the defensive coordinator, has turn out to be a sought-after teaching candidate by different groups due to the unit’s success, and defensive finish Nick Bosa, who leads the league in sacks (18.5), is a favourite to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
How every staff may win
The matchup is probably going to be determined by whose offensive line performs higher. Of the 4 remaining quarterbacks within the playoffs, Purdy has the bottom air yards per passing try (6.7), in accordance to Next Gen Stats, that means he usually throws to receivers on quick routes. Purdy will want to proceed to launch the ball rapidly to tame Reddick and the Eagles’ move rush.
Philadelphia has succeeded this season by working a balanced offense, however the San Francisco protection allowed the second-fewest dashing yards per sport (77.7). Stymieing the Eagles’ dashing assault might make them lean closely on the move, which might create sack alternatives for Bosa. The 49ers are the extra injured staff, however Shanahan stated he expects McCaffrey (calf), Samuel (ankle) and working again Elijah Mitchell (groin) to play.
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